Cranberry-harvester.



G. F. KEENE. CRANBERRY HARVESTER,

APPLICA 1,143,403. 0N FILED OCT 7 19M Patented June 15, 1915.

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Patented June 15, 1915.

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GEORGE F. KEENE, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOALFRED O. PARDEY, OF WHITMAN, MASSACHUSETTS.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 15, 1915.

Application filed October 7, 1914. Serial No. 865,407.

of Vhitman, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and Improved Cranberry-Harvester, of which the followingis a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has special reference to an improved cranberry harvesteror berry picking machine designed to be advanced over the ground or bogand provided with a forked or toothed scoop designed to pass under theberries with the vines' passing between the teeth of the scoop so as toVstrip the berries therefrom and permit the same to be deposited'into aberry box or receptacle removably carried upon the machine.

A further object of the invention isto provide an improved cranberryharvester which embodies a wheeled frame of novel construction whichsupports a cranberry box, the frame being designed to be advancedmanually or otherwise and pivotally supporting a scoop designed tocollect the berries during the advancement of the ma chine and being soconstructed that the wheels of the frame -will not track beyond thesides of the scoop and thereby be prevented from crushing the unpickedberries, while provision is also made to adjust the scoop sides withrelation to the teeth thereof so that the teeth will operate atdifferent distances from the ground to'secure the best adjustment formost effectively harvesting the berries, and the scoop is provided witha handle to sobalance it as to follow the nnevenness of the ground andnot scale any of the berries or dig into the ground, while at the sametime allowing for the convenient elevation of the scoop to empty theberriesl thereof into the box. Y

A still further object of the invention is to provide the handle, whichpivotally supports the scoop in position to compensate for theunevenness of the ground and to relieve the load thereof, with anauxiliary or lower handle which is disposed in convenient posiu tion tobe grasped by the operator when the Y machine is advanced by hand, so asto raise the scoop for emptying the same, whilethe handle proper moveswith Vrespect tothe auxilary handle orl the two fall together until thescoop is again lowered into operative position.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention resides in thepeculiar combination and arrangement of, parts to be hereinafter morefully described, illustrated and claimed, itbeing also an object toprovide a device which is simple in construction, durable and eiicientin operation and not likely to get out of working order.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference indicatecorresponding parts in all the views, and in which-- Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal sectional view ofthe improved cranberry harvesterillustrating an embodiment adapted to be advanced by hand; Fig. 2 is aplan view thereof partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a vertical crosssectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a crosssectional view taken on the line 1 -4 of Fig. 1.

As illustrated, the improved cranberry harvester or berry pickingmachine embodies a wheeled frame 10, the same being of substantiallytriangular form and hav ing side portions 1l spaced apart in, parallelrelation and converging toward the rear at the inwardly directedportions 12 producing a bight portion 13 which forms an axle forrotatably journaling a single transporting or bearing wheel 14: thereon.At the front of the frame an axle 15 is provided which is secured to theextremities of the portion 11 as shown at 16, butwhich projects beyondsuch points `of attachment for the rotatable journaling of a pair oftransporting or bearing wheels 17 thereon in front of the bearing wheel14 which is equidistantly positioned therebetween. The frame is thussupported at a spaced ydistance from the ground surface and is adaptedto beadvanced across the ground by suitable propelling means, such meansin the present instance being illustrated as designed to permit themachine to be advanced by hand. For this purpose the frame furthercomprises a yoke member which may take the form of a strip with atransverse bottom portion 18 from which extend inclined side portions 19with their forward ends highest or uppermost in a plane above the axle15 and retained 1n this position by depending side portions 2() whichare connected or fixed to the axle at their lower extremities outwardlyof the attaching portion 16 or the sides of the frame 10.

A pair of handles 21 inclined in an opposite direction relative to thedirection of inclination of the portions 19, are connected to the latterat their points of intersection therewith, as shown at 22, the handlesbeing thus held in fixed inclined positions and having their lowerextremities engaged with or connected to the axle 15 inwardly of theportions 19 and 20, as clearly illustrated in the drawings. The handlesproject above and rearwardly of the transporting or bearing wheel 14 andare connected by a cross j piece 23 adapted to be grasped bythe operatorfor advancing the machine, as will be readily apparent.

The frame is designed to support a receptacle or box 2li, preferably astandard one bushel cranberry box when the machine is employed forharvesting cranberries for which it is especially adapted, and the boxis supported upon the frame 10 and portion 18. The box is held fromforward displacement by an upright 25 extending between the axle 15 anda pivot 26 connecting the upper extremities or angular portions of theVsides 19 and 20 where they are bent, and

from rearward displacement bv a cross strip or cleat 27 connected to theconverging portions 12 of the frame 10 to form a shoulder for abutmentwith the rear end of the box. The forward end of the box also abuts theshoulder 28 produced by the T-connections 16 to further provide againstthe forward displacement of the box in connection with the upright 25which simultaneously forms a brace for the pivot y26 while the latterholds the side portions 19 and 20 and braces the same in spaced parallelrelation.

Pivotally supported on the pivot 26 is a handle or lever 29, theengagement of the handle with the pivot being forward of thelongitudinal center of the handle or lengthwise dimension thereof insuch a manner that the greater portion of the handle is at the rear tooverbalance the front portion and thus act to properly balance thegathering scoop which is supported by the handle for pivotal movement toan operative position for collecting the berries or to an inoperativeposition for discharging or emptying the berries into the box. Thisscoop embodies a chute or hopper 30 including a bottom portion 31decreasing in width rearwardly and secured to the lower extremity of thehandle or lever 29 by a connection 32 so that the upper end thereof,which is connected to and slotted as shown at 33 to receive the handle,will project over the attached to the bottom portion 31 and con- Y vergerearwardly at the same degree of convergence of theside edges of thebottom, so that the chute at its discharge end is of less width than thewidth of the receptacle or box 24 into which the berries are dischargedand collected, Vas will be hereinafter more fully set forth. The sidesof the chute at the front of the latter have portions 35 thereofdisposed in spaced parallel relation and of such width as to dispose thesame outwardly of the transporting wheels 17 so that the scoop willa-lso be correspondingly wider and thus the wheels will not track in theunpicked berries to crush or injure the same'.

Pivotally connected to the chute is the scoop proper which comprises ahead 36 mounted to swing on the pivot 37 between the sides of the chute,the head being dis-V posed in line with the bottom of the chute andhaving a plurality of spaced teeth 38 secured thereto by anchoring thesame in the head endwise from theforward edge of the head. These teethare preferably formed of small gage tubing having tapered or pointedextremities causing the teeth to be spaced apart a slightly greaterdegree at tions and being so closely positioned as toV prevent theberries from escapingbetween the teeth. The teeth are curved upwardly attheir forward ends to form a receptacle-like member for retaining theberries therein prior to their discharge into the box, but in order tocause the teeth to operate at different elevations or distances from theground best calculated to most efficiently harvest the berries, the sideportions 39 of the scoop adjacent to the parallel side portions 35 areprovided with arcuate slots 40 and said side portions are mounted toswing on the pivot 37' independent of the sides of the chute and theteeth. Said side portions, in swinging in an arc of a circle concentricto the pivot 37 as a center, may

be adjusted and held in `the desired position by suitable clamping meansconsisting of bolt and nut connections 41 engaged through the parallelportions 35 of the Vsides of the chute and the arcuate slots 40 in thesidesV 39 of the scoop proper, the nuts being tightened to exertfrictional engagement between the parts 35 and 39 to retain the latteragainst movement independently thereof. This 'operation is clearlyillustrated in the three positions of the sides shown in Fig. 1

The sides 39 are connected by a cross brace 4t2 to strengthen thestructure and to further insure the Vsides moving together and thusbeing `uniformly adjusted, it being understood thatthe sides of thescoop proper are similarly shaped and provided with rounded bottom andforward edges, as shown at 43, so as not to dig into the earth. Pivotedto the handle or `lever 29 is an auxiliary handle del, the point ofpivotal connection 45 of the auxiliary handle with the main handle beingat a point slightly above the pivot 26, and theauxiliary handle in turnhaving a link 46 pivoted thereto, as shown at 47, with its opposite endprovided with a hook 48. The link is disposed to slide through a guideeye i9 carried by the handle'29 above the pivotal connection 45 so thatwhen the scoop is lowered to the position shown in Fig. l the eye willtravel over the link and beheld from displacement by the hook 48.

Thus, in harvesting the berries the machine is advanced across a bogwith the teeth set at the proper elevation and due to the manner inwhich the scoop is pivotally supported, vwith a slight excess of weightat the front of the scoop or the greater weight of the scoop comparedwith that of the handle in rear of the pivot 26 to overbalance theseparts, the scoop will be permitted to ride Vup and down and compensatefor the unevenness in the ground surface and therefore not scale anyberries or dig into the ground, as will be obvious;-v The vines willpass between the teeth and the berries will be gathered on the same sothat the continued advancement of the machine will result in thestripping of the berries from the vines when the berries come in contactwith the upward sloping portions ofthe teeth and will drop into Vthehollow portion of the scoop. rlShe vines will pass between the teeth asthe machine moves ahead and the berries consequently prevented fromVescaping over the front of the scoop or the points of the teeth, andwhen the scoop is filled the operator grasps the auxiliary handle 44:and pulls down on the same. This, due to the connection of the auxiliaryhandle with the main handle through tlielnedium of the link, will resultin the raising of the scoop and tilting of the same at an oppositeinclination when in the inoperative position shown inv Vthe eyelet overthe link to the full line position indicated in Fig. l, when theauxiliary handle will again be in a convenient position for dumping thescoop, and this operation is continued until the box or receptacle isfilled, when it is removed and a new one placed in position or the boxemptied and replaced for the reception of another quantity of berries.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new vand desire tosecure by Letters Patent is 1. A cranberry harvester, comprising awheeled frame, means for advancing the same, a handle pivoted betweenthe sides of the frame at the upper forward portion of the frame, and ascoop having a discharge chute and secured to the lower end of thehandle, the chute projecting at its upper end over the pivot of thehandle, the scoop and its chute being tilted by said handle to dischargethe berries into a suitable receptacle carried upon theframe.

A cranberry harvester, comprising a frame, transporting wheels arrangedoutside of the frame, means for advancing the frame, and a scoop pivotedto the frame and designed to gather the berries and to be tilted todischarge the same into a suitable receptacle, the scoop being ofgreater width than the width of the frame and having its sides disposedoutwardly of the transporting wheels, whereby the unpicked berries willnot-'be injured or crushed.

A cranberry harvester, comprising a carrying frame, a collectingreceptacle supported thereon, a toothed scoop having a discharge chutetapering toward its discharge end and a handle pivotally supported andrigidly carrying said scoop to raise and lower the scoop over thereceptacle for collecting the berries and discharging the saine into thereceptacle.

A cranberry harvester,` comprising a carrying frame, a collectingreceptacle supported thereon, a toothed scoop, said scoop having meansto adjust the teeth thereof at varying distances from the ground andmeans to move the scoop to an operative po sition for collecting theberries when the machine is advanced across theground and adapted topermit the movement of the scoop to an inoperative position for discharging the berries and collecting the ice ground surface when pushedover a bog and foldable means carriedby lthe handle for pullingrearwardly thereon to raise the scoop.

6. 'l` he combination with a wheeled frame adapted to support areceptacle, a handle for the frame to permit the manual advancementthereof, a handle pivoted to the frame, a scoop carried by .the lastnamed handle for pivotal movement therewith to forwardly and rearwardlyinclined positions to colect the berries and empty the same therefromrespectively, said scoop being adapted to move vertically to compensatefor the unevennessin the ground surface when pushed over a bog, anauxiliary handle pivoted to the first named handle and a link pivoted tothe auxiliary handle and having slidable connection with the first namedhandle, whereby when downward pull is exerted on the auxiliary handlethe scoop will be pivoted to discharge the contents thereof into thereceptacle and whereby when the handle is moved to an overbalancingposition while the auxiliary handle is held stationary it will move overthe link and against the auxiliary handle with the link projectingupwardly, and means to hold the first named handle from displacementrelative to the link when the scoop is lowered and the handles areelevated.

7. The combination with a wheeled frame adapted to support a receptacle,a handle for the frame to permit the manual advancement thereof, ahandle pivoted to the frame, a scoop carried by the handle for pivotalmovement therewith to forwardly and rearwardly inclined positions tocollect the berries and empty the same therefrom respectively, saidscoop being designed to pivot with the second named handle and ride overthe ground to compensate for the unevenness in the ground surface whenpushed over a bog, an auxiliary handle pivoted to the first named handleand a link pivoted to the auxiliary handle and having slidableconnection with the first named handle, whereby when downward pull isexerted on the auxiliary handle the scoop will be raised to dischargethe contents thereof into the receptacle and whereby when the :handle ismoved to an overbalancing position it will move over the link andagainst the auxiliary handle7 said scoop embodying spaced curved teethand adjustable side portions to raise and lower .the teeth with respectto the ground.

8. A cranberry harvester, comprising a triangular' framewith a pair offront transporting wheels and a single rear transporting wheel betweenthe same, a frame structure attached to the first named frame and havingside portions, inclined handles connected to the frames and projectingrearwardly, said frames being adapted to support a cranberry box and tohold the same against sidewise displacement, means to prevent endwisedisplacement of the box, a handle pivoted between the side portions ofthe framel structure, a rearwardly converging chute carrier thereby infront of the pivot and a scoop pivoted to the chute for verticaladjustment, the machine when advanced across a bog receiving the vinesbetween its foraminous portions to strip the berries there-from' as thesame pass by the scoop, and said handle projecting rearwardly of thepivot and forwardly and adapted to be pulled rearwardly and downwardlyto raise the chute whereby the berries will be discharged from the scooponto the chute andemptied into the box.

9. The combination with a receptacle carrier; of a scoop pivoted aboveand in front of the same, said scoop having a head with curved teethconnected thereto, connected side portions for said scoop having pivotalconnection with the head and means to hold the sides in adjustedpositions relative to the teeth and independent thereof to adjust theteeth at different elevations when in gathering position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two .subscribing witnesses.

GEORGE F. KEENE.

Witnesses HARRISON D. SOULE, Guo. l).V SoULE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, 'by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

